Adjustable table for EDP system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an adjustable table for an EDP system having a monitor ( 17 ) and a keyboard ( 18 ), the table having a telescoping column ( 14, 15 ) with at least one fixed part ( 14 ) and one movable part, a table top ( 11 ) on which a subpanel ( 12 ) is pivotal about an axis ( 22 ) parallel to a front edge of the table top, characterized in that the subpanel ( 12 ) is connected via a strut ( 13 ) with the fixed part ( 14 ) of the telescoping column ( 14, 15 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US national phase of PCT applicationPCT/DE99/00980 filed Mar. 31, 1999 with claim to the priority of Germanpatent application 19818457.3 itself filed Apr. 24, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an adjustable table for a monitor and akeyboard of an EDP system, the table having at least one telescopingcolumn with a fixed part and a movable part and a table top on which asubpanel is pivotal about an axis parallel to a front edge of the tabletop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tables for EDP systems are used in many applications as work spaces forpersons of different sizes. Although the tables are normally adjustablewith respect to height and even usually tippable about a longitudinalaxis, they typically have the disadvantage that the distance from thehead of the user to the monitor and the angle of inclination of the headof the user change when the table is used by people of different size.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a table where apredetermined angle of inclination of the head of a user directed at themonitor of an EDP system mounted on the table can be adjustedindependently of the size of the user in a simple manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is attained for a table of the above-described type in thatthe subpanel is connected via a strut with the fixed part of thetelescoping column.

Thus an adjustable table for an EDP system can have a monitor and akeyboard, the table having a telescoping column with at least one fixedpart and one movable part and a table top on which a subpanel is pivotalabout an axis parallel to a front edge of the table top. The subpanel isconnected via a strut with the fixed part of the telescoping column.

With the table according to the invention the arrangement of the monitorof the EDP system on the table-top subpanel which is pivotal about anaxis that extends parallel to the front edge of the table top, with thetable top supported by at least one strut, ensures that when the movablepart of the telescoping column is moved relative to the fixed part ofthe telescoping column, i.e. the table-top height is adjusted, the angleof the table-top subpanel on which the monitor of the EDP system ismounted is automatically changed such that the user of the EDP systemlooks at the same angle at the monitor of the EDP system. Thispositioning is achieved with the table according to the invention by thestrut connected to the telescoping column in a remarkable manner withoutthe help of additional adjustment motors and solely through the relativemovement of the movable part of the telescoping column relative to thefixed part thereof. The length of the strut is set such that for examplein the seated position of a user it produces a predeterminedergonomically comfortable angle of inclination of the head of the userwhile looking at the monitor of the EDP system. As a result of theinteraction of the various parts of the table according to the inventiononly under these circumstances is the inclination angle even maintainedwhen the movable part of the telescoping column moves upward out of thefixed part in a raised position of the table in which the EDP-systemuser is standing.

According to a preferred embodiment the strut is connected to a floorplate that carries the telescoping column.

According to a preferred embodiment of the table according to theinvention a pivot axis of the subpanel is set 2 cm to 5 cm below anupper surface of the table top. In this manner on the one hand there isan ergonomically very comfortable angle of the head of the user lookingat the monitor and on the other hand the monitor lies somewhat below theoverall table-top upper surface so that the user can easily see over themonitor out into the surrounding space so as to more easily make contactwith other people and to be able to communicate from the work spaceunhindered in all directions.

The strut is preferably connected by a hinge to an underside of thesubpanel. This is a very simple connection of the strut to the subpanel.The strut is pivotally mounted in a recess in the fixed part of thetelescoping column. This ensures a simple but robust connection of thestrut to the telescoping column.

According to a further important feature of the table according to theinvention, the fixed part of the telescoping column has a plurality ofvertically offset recesses. This ensures that the strut can be fitted ina bore at a plurality of different levels so that the inclination angleof the subpanel and thus the angle of the head of a user relative to themonitor of an EDP system is also settable ergonomically optimally forusers of different sizes.

The table according to the invention can have according to a preferredembodiment two struts which are pivotally mounted in respective bores inthe fixed part of the telescoping column. In this manner the tableaccording to the invention an be overall quite strong.

In order to provide more foot space, as a further feature thetelescoping column is inclined at an angle of 10° to 20° from thevertical toward a user.

In order to be able to change the angle of the subpanel simply relativeto the table top, the strut is formed of an upper partial strut elementand a lower partial strut element that are connected together by athreaded sleeve.

Further adjustability for setting height is achieved when the fixed partof the telescoping column is provided with an outrigger to which thestrut is connected. In the lowest position of the table top the strutextends nearly over the entire width of the table top but below it sothat a longer strut is available for setting the height of the tabletop.

According to a further preferred embodiment the strut is braced with itsfree end on a bar extending at an angle to the vertical from the fixedpart of the telescoping column so that the strut does not need to befixedly connected to the telescoping column and the force can beconducted at a constant angle to the telescoping column.

To this end the strut is fixed on the subpanel so that the subpanel canbe loaded and above all the subpanel is subject to less vibration whichmakes it harder to look at the monitor.

With respect to simplicity of construction it is preferably that thefree end of the strut is formed as a slide surface. Alternatively aroller is provided on the free end of the strut.

In order to prevent the strut from lifting off the bar the free end ofthe strut engages in a lateral groove of the bar.

In order to be able to vary the angle of the subpanel the inclination ofthe bar is variable.

The stability of the table is increased when the bar is supported by itsfree end on the floor, thereby taking the function of a table leg andthus replacing the floor plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The table according to the invention is described in the following withreference to a preferred embodiment which is shown in the drawing.Therein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the table accordingto the invention with a seated user;

FIG. 2 is the table shown in FIG. 1 with a standing user;

FIG. 3 is side view of an alternative embodiment of the table shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a table of the type shown in FIG. 2 with an outrigger on thefixed part of the telescoping column;

FIG. 5 is an overlain view of a table in three different heightpositions of the table top with a strut sliding on the fixed part of thetelescoping column;

FIG. 5A is a detail of another embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is an embodiment with a roller on the free end of the strut.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

In the table 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for an EDP system 17, 18 a tabletop 11 has a subpanel 12 that is pivotal about an axis 22 set 5 cmunderneath an upper face of the table top 11 and that serves as supportsurface for a monitor with a screen 17. The subpanel 12 is connected viaa strut 13 with a fixed part 14 of a telescoping column 14, 15 whosemovable part is fixed to the underside of the table top 11 and carriesthe table top 11.

The strut 13 is connected by means of a hinge 31 to the subpanel, an end32 of the strut 13 opposite the hinge 31 being fitted in a recess 24 inthe fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 and being pivotal inthis recess 24. In order to change the inclination angle of the screen17 of a monitor sitting on the subpanel 12 relative to a head 19 of auser 20 of the EDP system 17, 18 in dependence on the size of the person20, further recesses 24′, 24″, 24′″, and 24″″ are provided in the fixedpart 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 for pivotally receiving the end32 of the strut 13. The fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15is fixed in a floor support or plate 16 provided with rollers 26.

The adjustable table 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a position in which thekeyboard 18 of the EDP system 17, 18 is being used by a seated person20. The strut 13 of the subpanel 12 which is coupled to the monitor withthe screen 17 is so mounted with its end 32 in the recess 24 in thefixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 that the angle of thehead of the user 20 of the EDP system 17 ,18 relative to the screen 17is such that the user assumes an ergonomically natural and comfortablebody position while working with the EDP system 17, 18.

FIG. 2 shows the adjustable table 10 according to the invention in aposition in which the user 20 is working while standing at the EDPsystem 17, 18. To this end the movable part 15 of the telescoping column14, 15 is raised so far up from the fixed part 14 that the arm 27 of theuser 20 is set generally parallel to the floor 28 and to the table top11 when the keyboard of the EDP system 17, 18 is being used. As a resultof the connection of the subpanel 12 on which the monitor with thescreen 17 is mounted with the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column14, 15 via the strut 13, in an extended position of the movable partrelative to the telescoping column 14, 15 the subpanel assumes relativeto the table top 11 a large angle β instead of a small angle α. In thismanner the screen 17 changes its position relative to the table top 11and assumes the changed positions shown at 17 in FIG. 2. In order toemphasize the change in position of the screen 17FIG. 2 shows theoriginal position from FIG. 1 in dashed lines next to the new position17′.

The adjustable table 10′ according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 isgenerally identical to the table 10 shown in FIG. 2. The table 10′ isbraced however by a strut 13′ which sits on the floor plate 16. Thestrut 13′ is made of two elements, and upper element and a lower elementwhich are interconnected by a threaded sleeve 23. The threaded sleeve 23has an internal screwthread that coacts with the externally threadedends of the partial strut elements such that the strut 13 gets longer onrotation of the sleeve in one direction and gets shorter on rotation inthe opposite direction so as to adjust the inclination angle of thesubpanel 12.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment where an outrigger connected to the strut 13is provided on the fixed part of the telescoping column.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the strut 13 with its free end 37 bearing on a bar 36inclined to the vertical and connected to the fixed part 14 of thetelescoping column 14, 15 so as not to be fixed to the telescopingcolumn 14, 15. Alternatively there is the possibility of forming thefree end 37 as a slide surface or to provide a roller 39 on the free end37 of the strut 13. In this case the strut 13 is fixed with respect tothe subpanel 12.

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A the free end 37 of thestrut 13 engages in the bar 36 in lateral groove whose angle is variablein order to influence he angle of the subpanel 12.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the bar 36 has a lower end standing on the floorso that it serves as a table leg and thus increases the stability andthe load-carrying capacity of the table.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable table for an EDP system having amonitor and a keyboard, said table comprising: a base; a telescopingcolumn on said base and including a fixed part secured to said base anda movable part shiftable along said column upwardly and downwardlyrelative to said movable part; a table top on said movable part having afront edge proximal to a user and a rear edge remote from said user; asubpanel pivotally mounted on an underside of said table top betweensaid front edge and said rear edge about a first pivot axis parallel tosaid front edge, said subpanel supporting a screen of said monitor at avariable angle relative to said table top; and a strut pivotallyconnected at one end to said subpanel at a second pivot axis andconnected at another end to said fixed part.
 2. The adjustable tabledefined in claim 1 wherein said base is a floor plate and said strut hassaid other end connected to said floor plate.
 3. The adjustable tabledefined in claim 1 wherein said first pivot axis is located 2 cm to 5 cmbelow an upper surface of said table top.
 4. The adjustable tabledefined in claim 1 wherein said other end of said strut is pivotallymounted in a recess in said fixed part of said column.
 5. The adjustabletable defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed part of said column has aplurality of vertically offset recesses and said other end of said strutis selectively received in said one of said recesses.
 6. The adjustabletable defined in claim 5 wherein two struts are provided between saidfixed part and said subpanel, each of said struts being received in arespective bore of the fixed part of the telescoping column.
 7. Theadjustable table defined in claim 1 wherein said telescoping column isinclined on said base at an angle of 10° to 20° from the vertical towardsaid front edge.
 8. The adjustable table defined in claim 1 wherein saidstrut is formed with an upper partial strut element and a lower partialstrut element interconnected by a threaded sleeve.
 9. The adjustabletable defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed part of said column isformed with an outrigger to which said strut is connected.
 10. Theadjustable table defined in claim 1 wherein said other end of said strutis braced against a bar extending at an angle to the vertical from thefixed part of said column.
 11. An adjustable table for an EDP systemhaving a monitor and a keyboard, said table comprising: a base; atelescoping column on said base and including a fixed part secured tosaid base and a movable part shiftable along said column upwardly anddownwardly relative to said movable part; a table top on said movablepart having a front edge proximal to a user and a rear edge remote fromsaid user; a subpanel pivotally mounted on an underside of said tabletop between said front edge and said rear edge about a first pivot axisparallel to said front edge, said subpanel supporting a screen of saidmonitor at a variable angle relative to said table top; and a strutfixedly connected at one end to said subpanel and bearing at anotherendon said fixed part.
 12. The adjustable table defined in claim 1wherein said other end is formed as a slide surface.
 13. The adjustabletable defined in claim 11, further comprising a roller on said other endof said strut.
 14. The adjustable table defined in claim 11 wherein saidother end of said strut slides in a lateral groove of a bar connected tosaid fixed part.
 15. The adjustable table defined in claim 11 whereinsaid other end of said strut bears on said fixed part through a barextending from said fixed part.
 16. The adjustable table defined inclaim 15 wherein said bar has a variable inclination angle.
 17. Theadjustable table defined in claim 15 wherein said bar is supported onthe floor.